Student Bios

rear: Obed Agredano-Lazano, Patricia Williams, Alics Deighan, Grace Ahn, Aline Fertil, Margaret Young, Jane-Rachel Sanow Front: Eric Leventhal, Tonia Spence, Anne Kelsky, Kiernan Warble

rear: Hiromi Okomura, Jeffery Fenelly, ?, Marcela Koffer, Regan Dean, Jessica Chow, Charman Hayes, Jen Svelnya Front: Tanya C., Aska Lang, ?

rear: Kelvin Spooker, Allyson Ryan, Wirach Amonpattana, Euginia Kim, Michelle Abraham Front: Marisa Murgolo, Tiffany Goldberg, Amanda Pagar

Aileen Evancho -------------- Suzie Wu

Tanya Denise Cureton

I graduated in 5/92 with a bs in psychology and minored in sociology. I currently work for acs as a child welfare specialist.� �I plan to specialize in agpp or clinical social work.

I am from Seattle, and already love New York City.� The only thing I miss �so far (aside from friends and family) is being able to go kayaking at anytime.� My field placement is with Project Renewal at the Holland House where I will be working with adults who are homeless, living with AIDS, or have substance-abuse issues.� My previous experience is with developmental disabilities, autism, and juvenile delinquency.�

Hiromi Okumura

Jeffrey John Fennelly

Bachelor Number One is a former teacher of middle-school and high school �Spanish and English and, most recently Special Ed and ESL in the NYC public schools. This New Yorker (born and raised in NJ) loves to write, swim, mtn. bike, garden, sing and play his guitar, travel and spend time with his nieces and nephew. He speaks fluent Spanish and some Mandarin and lives for the day cars are banned from Manhattan, the Hudson and East Rivers are swimmable, and everyone does Yoga instead watching the superbowl.

Laura Leffak:

I just graduated from the University of Michigan with a double major in English literature and Jewish studies. I am originally from Dayton OH. I am in the dual degree program with Columbia Social Work and the Jewish Theological Seminary's Jewish Studies program. I am also interning at JESNA, the Jewish Education Service of North America. I will graduate in three years.

My name is Regan Dean,

I'm from Orange County, California, and I just graduated from the University of Southern California in May.� I'm enjoying New York thus far, but am not looking forward to the cold weather!� I have been placed at an outpatient mental health clinic in the Bronx where I will be providing counseling to our clients.� I am very excited about this program and eager to learn the skills that will assist me in this profession.

Jessica Kee-Young Cho

I was born in Seoul, Korea and came to the states when I was 2 with my father, mother and sister. My father wanted to pursue his graduate studies here and so we left all our family behind. I am very Americanized however I have a strong interest in issues pertaining to the Korean community here, specifically in increasing awareness of mental health and alleviating the social stigma associated with the same.

I worked in a children's crisis intervention unit at a psychiatric hospital in New Jersey for the last year. I loved my experience there and decided that I wanted to pursue a clinical concentration working with children, adolescents and families. My field placement is in a children's foster care agency. As my exposure to different fields of practice increases however, via course work and discussions, I am beginning to

consider other directions, namely international social work (going back to my interest in the Korean community).

My name is Jayne Pietrass.� I am from Massachusetts and would like to focus on policy work while at Columbia.� I have worked in the �field for a few years before attending Columbia.� I have worked as an Outreach Counselor for adults with mental illness and have �worked as a casemanager for child protective services in Massachusetts. If you have any questions or need more information please email me.� thanks.

Eric Leventhal

I began my work life as CPA for a large accounting firm and have more recently worked as a general manager of two successful restaurants.� I have done a lot of informal counseling in these prior careers and would like to make counseling my full-time career.� I live on the Upper West Side with my wife Ellen.

Anne Kelsky:

I graduated in 1999 from Rutgers University, where I majored in Political Science and double-minored in Urban Studies and Spanish.� For the past year, I have been working with the Millstone Basin Affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, located in Cranbury, NJ.� I am currently the youth coordinator and a member of the board.

I graduated from Connecticut College 4 years ago. After graduation, I worked in the hi-tech industry for 3 years in Seattle. I took some social work classes non-matric at� the University of Washington and last year at Fordham. For the past year I've� worked for an HIV/AIDS non-profit agency and volunteered at Planned Parenthood in Brooklyn.

Kiernan Warble

My name is Grace Ahn from Los Angeles, California.� For almost 2 years I've worked at a residential facility with emotionally disturbed kids who have been abused and or neglected.

Personal biography of Jane-Rachel Sanow

Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Jane-Rachel graduated in 1999 from the �University of Maryland College Park with a B.A. in Jewish Studies and with concentrations in Literature and in Afro-American Studies.� Additionally, Jane-Rachel spent two years of college studying in Israel.� For the last �year, Jane-Rachel has been working as the manager of the West Side Campaign �Against Hunger, New York's largest food pantry, as a member of Avodah: the Jewish Service Corps.� Currently, Jane-Rachel is enrolled in the dual-degree program with the Jewish Theological Seminary.

My name is Marisa Murgolo.� I am originally from Lodi, NJ, and have returned there while I work on my Master's.� After graduation from Villanova University in '99, I spent a year working with Americorp in Colorado Springs.� I hope to eventually specialize in Adolescent Addiction Counseling.

Amanda Beth Pagar

I am originally from Connecticut. I have a B.A. in art history and archaeology from Bowdoin College. My past social work experience is in working in a residential treatment program for adolescent girls. Ultimately I would like to work with children and families.

Wirach Amonpattana

My name is Wirach Amonpattana. I am from Thailand. I had been a director at Redemptorist Center for Children in need in Thailand for three years. In coming to Columbia University, I would like to develop my skills and make my self more effective in the social work area.�� My concentration is on the direct� practice. I am also interested in family and school-based.

My name is Euginia Kim and I just graduated from Boston University with a Rehab. Counseling degree.� I enjoyed working with families in my previous experience as a caseworker and am relieved to pursue that interest further through my current field placement. �On a more personal note, I love performance art-- theatre, ballet, opera, classical concerts, etc.-- so if anyone know of any discount rates to any of these, please let me know.� I also am engaged so if anyone know of a great reception site in the city, please let me know as well.� Thanks =).

I am Michelle Abraham. I am currently employed by the Administration for Children's Services as a Child Welfare Specialist.� I work with pregnant and or parenting teen mothers who are on Public Assistance.�

I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and will complete a Master's of Science in Criminal Justice in 2001.

" I am an overseas student from Taiwan. Learning in the state in the whole new adventure to me."

" As a social worker in Taiwan and having my undergraduate degree in social work, I would love to sure my experiences form Taiwan to make the class more interesting."

" In facing the challenge of discovering who I am, there is always the risk that I might get hurt, but I am brave enough to take that chance if it will make me a more flexible person."

Shi Shin Suzie Wu

My name is Aileen Evancho.� I am a recent graduate from Penn State University where I majored in Psychology and minored in Human Development.� I am currently a full time employee at Julia Dykman Andrus Memorial where I am a milieu thereapist for children who are emotionally disturbed. �This is a residential treatment center.� I am non-matric.� this semester at columbia taking two classes on Friday mornings.